# US 8,540,225 B2 · Quick change vise jaw system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,540,225 B2 - Document ID: US8540225B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/083,133 - Filed: 2011-04-08 - Published: 2012-10-11 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-08 - Assignees: Bellatex Industries, LLC - Applicants: William J. Ehnstrom - Inventors: William J. Ehnstrom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540225B2 ## CPC - B25B 1/2405: {Construction of the jaws} - B25B 1/2452: {with supplementary jaws} - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING ## Abstract A master jaw assembly used in a vise including a locking jaw, a detachable jaw and a clamping device disposed in the locking jaw, securely clamping the detachable jaw to the locking jaw. The locking jaw has a groove extending along an inner surface of the locking jaw defined by a first and second edge. The second edge is tapered inward and downward toward the base. The detachable jaw has a dovetail protrusion along one side surface thereof. The clamping device includes a plurality of specially-shaped clamp-nuts having a downwardly tapered edge, said clamp-nuts designed to receive one end of a double-ended threaded stud. The detachable jaw becomes fixed to the locking jaw by inserting the protrusion into the groove and torquing the studs to tighten the clamp-nuts downward against the protrusion such that the protrusion is clamped between the taper of the second edge and the clamp-nuts. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A master jaw assembly used in a vise, comprising: (a) a locking jaw having a groove extending along an inner side surface of the locking jaw, said groove having a base defined by first and second opposed edges where the first edge is normal to the base and the second edge is tapered inward and downward toward the base and with at least one aperture formed inward from a top surface of the locking jaw and intersecting the first edge of the locking jaw; (b) a detachable jaw having a dovetail protrusion along one side surface thereof of substantially the same width as the groove in the locking jaw; (c) a clamping means disposed in the locking jaw along the first edge for securely coupling the detachable jaw to the locking jaw wherein the clamping means comprises at least one tapped hole vertically disposed in the base of the locking jaw; (d) at least one clamp-nut having a threaded bore running longitudinally through a body of the clamp-nut and an inwardly and downwardly tapered edge in a bottom portion of the clamp-nut and wherein said aperture in the locking jaw is sized and shaped to receive and encircle the clamp-nut therein; and (e) at least one double-end stud having a right-hand threaded segment for screwing into the tapped hole in the clamping means and a left-hand threaded segment on the second end for screwing into the threaded bore in the clamp-nut such that when the double-end stud is rotated clockwise, the first end of the double-end stud screws into the tapped hole in the clamping means and draws the clamp-nut downward through the aperture and thereby clamps the dovetail protrusion of the detachable jaw between the second edge of the locking jaw and the tapered edge in the bottom portion of the clamp-nut. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The master jaw assembly of claim 1 wherein the locking jaw further includes a pair of holes, in the base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The master jaw assembly of claim 2 wherein the locking jaw is adapted to be releasably attached to inner sides of a fixed jaw and a movable jaw of a vise by bolts passing through the pair of holes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The master jaw assembly of claim 1 wherein the detachable jaw is formed of a length of aluminum stock material and the locking metal jaw is formed of a length of steel stock material. ### Claim 5 A master jaw assembly used in a vise, comprising: (a) a locking jaw having a groove extending along an inner side of the locking jaw between a top surface and a bottom surface thereof, said groove having a base and defined by first and second opposing edges, where said first edge is tapered inward and downward toward the base; (b) a detachable jaw having a dovetail protrusion along one side thereof adapted to mate with said groove; and (c) a fastening device disposed in the locking jaw along the first edge, fastening the locking jaw to the detachable jaw wherein the fastening device includes a plurality of bores formed in the base of the locking jaw; a plurality of non-circular nut holes formed in an upper surface of the locking jaw and intersecting the first edge of the locking jaw; a plurality of studs, each having a right-hand threaded segment at one end, a left-hand threaded segment at the opposite end and an unthreaded segment separating the threaded segments; a plurality of clamp-nuts shaped to be received in the non-circular clamp-nut holes, each one operatively engaging one of the left-hand threaded segments of the studs, each of said clamp-nuts further having a tapered notch in a bottom surface thereof; and wherein the detachable jaw is fastened to the locking jaw by torquing the studs into the bores formed in the locking jaw and the clamp-nuts are pulled through the non-circular nut holes such that the tapered notch in the clamp-nuts engages the dovetail protrusion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The master jaw assembly of claim 5 wherein the locking jaw further includes a pair of holes extending through the base members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The master jaw assembly of claim 5 wherein the locking jaw is adapted to be releasably attached to at least one of the fixed jaw and the moving jaw of a vise. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The master jaw assembly of claim 6 wherein the detachable jaw is formed of a length of stock of a material which is less abrasive than that of which the locking jaw is formed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The master jaw assembly of claim 6 wherein the detachable jaw is formed of a length of stock material which is harder than that of which the locking jaw is formed. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The master jaw assembly of claim 6 wherein the detachable jaw is formed of a length of material that is longer than the length of the locking jaw. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The master jaw assembly of claim 6 wherein the detachable jaw is formed of a length of material that is shorter than the length of the locking jaw.